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Article published Oct 31, 2006
Latino vote may shake up House race
By RAY HACKETT
Norwich Bulletin

NEW LONDON -- Besides teaching English to Hispanic and Latino arrivals in the region, Centro de la Comunidad teaches Spanish for non-Hispanic and non-Latino residents.

"When I first came here, you couldn't find anyone (in the region) who spoke Spanish," said Gladys Rivera, who has worked at the center for more than 20 years. "Today, we have grocery stores, restaurants and Hispanic churches. The schools have embraced the culture, and there are people in doctor's offices and hospitals that speak the language. That's progress."

But not enough progress, center officials said.

"We could probably serve a lot more, but we're not open during those hours when it would be convenient for people to come to us," Executive Director Miriam Torres-Thorburn said. "Many of the people we could be serving are working two, sometimes three jobs. Transportation is a problem. But with more money, I think we could do more."

Funding for such groups is a concern for California Democratic Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, who toured the center Monday -- her sixth trip to Connecticut this year.

"I travel around the country getting to see how communities with large immigrant populations are coping and the quality of life people have," said Sanchez, whose visits are designed to show support of Democratic candidates running for office this year.

One of seven children of immigrant parents, Sanchez is also one of two siblings serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I think she is someone who can help us reach out to a community that four years ago we couldn't reach," said 2nd Congressional District challenger Joe Courtney, who toured the center with Sanchez Monday.

Courtney and Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons are locked in a dead heat with just one week remaining in the campaign. It is Courtney's second attempt to unseat Simmons.

Growing electorate
The Latino vote represents about 3.5 percent of the 2nd District's total voting population, according to Roll Call newspaper.

Of the top 20 House races rated as a toss-up this year, Connecticut's three races are ranked in the top eight in percentage of Latino voters. The question is how many Latinos will visit the polls. Latinos represent 7.7 percent of the state's total registered voters, but only 4 percent voted in 2004. But a heightened awareness of the political process due to immigration issues could result in a higher turnout this year.

"The congressman is seeking the support of the Hispanic community just like everyone else," said Simmons' campaign manager, Chris Healy. "And the congressman believes the tax cuts he has supported help residents up and down the economic ladder and has long supported education funding to address a lot of the issues they face."

Simmons also contributed to Centro's efforts, one of more than a dozen local groups to receive campaign contributions given to his re-election campaign by former Congressman Tom DeLay. Centro received $7,900 of the DeLay money earlier this year.

Torres-Thorburn said one of the hardest issues she faces is convincing arrivals becoming involved in the political process is important because it can have an impact on their lives.

"Their goal here is survival," she said. "They work to make ends meet. And they don't understand how the process works here. But they are active, and some are very politically active. It is something that has been ingrained in them all their lives. We just need to teach them how it can help them here."


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